Dental jaw-brace



(Model.)

W. J. BICKFORD. DENTAL JAW BRAGB..

Patented Aug. l1.,` 1885.

l ya@ l INVENTOR: I 7gg/WA BY CCM h2- ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Phalouhegnpber. Walhilxgim. D. C.

UNiTno STATES PATENT @Trueno WILLIS J. BICKFORD, OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

DENTAL JAW-BRAC E.

A pplcaiion iiled December Q8, 18S-2.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, VTLLIs J. Brennern), ot" North Attleborough, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Mouth-Prop for Dentists7 Use, oi' which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to devices used by dentists for keeping the mouth of a patientopcn when gas is administered.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming` part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding partsinboth the gures.

Figure l is a side perspective view of my improved mouth-prop. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

A tube, A, of suitable size and lengt-h, is fitted with a slide-pin, B, and the tube eontains a spiral spring, a, which tends to force the pin B outward, a screw-pin, b, or other suitable device, being applied to the tube to limit the elongation ofthe two parts. The outer end ot' the tube A and of the pin B are provided with socket-pieces c, of suitable shape, in which are lit-ted blocks d, of rubber or other soft material, and the two opposite sides of the soeketpieces are formed to project above the rubber, so as to act in retaining the device in place. This prop, after being` put in place in the patients mouth, is held firmly in position against the teeth by the spiral spring, and readily adapts itselito any SCATIN' forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,627, dated August 4, 1885.

(Model.)

movement of the jaw. The prop is thus prevented from dropping out, and the mouth is kept open wide enough for any operation. The prop is preferably made of metal plated with nickel or other metal, so that, while it possesses greater strength than the ordinary wooden peg, it is much smaller, and consequently takes up less room. Further, it is much more cleanly than the wooden plug, cannot eorrede or tarnish, and can hc readily kept clean.

I am aware that it is not new to make ajawbrace with a rigid middle part and elastic extremities, or of a rubber plug held in asliorter tube by a screw; but

iVhat I do claim as new is- As an improved article of manufacture, a iawbrace consisting ot' a tube, A, having a socket, c, for receiving an elast-ie block, d, the pin B, sliding Within the tube, having a socket, c, for receiving an elastic block, ci, the spiral spring a, within the tube below the pin B, to force said pin out-Ward, and a pin, b, for preventing` the pin B from being thrown entirely ont ot the tube, substantially as set forth, whereby when said brace is in place in a patients mouth the spring will prevent the brace from being,r displaced should the mouth be opened to a greater or less extent.

TILL-1S El. BCKFORD. illitilesses:

G.' L. WnN'rwon'rn, MILAN F. S'rm'nns. 

